Earlier this month, William B. Bynum, president of Mississippi Valley State University, was chosen as the new leader of Jackson State University in Mississippi. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi has chosen Jerryl Briggs as acting president of Mississippi Valley State University.

Dr. Briggs has been serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Mississippi Valley State University. Before joining the staff at Mississippi Valley State University, Dr. Briggs was vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Earlier, he was vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and dean of students at Lincoln University, the historically Black educational institution in Pennsylvania.

President Briggs is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, where he majored in chemistry education. He holds a master’s degree in human relations and supervision from Louisiana Tech University and a doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

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Professional sports teams have discontinued playing Kate Smith’s version of “God Bless America” at games due to her recording of songs in the 1930s that contained racist lyrics. Which statement best reflects your view?

I agree that Smith’s version of “God Bless America” should not be played.

Smith’s recordings with racist lyrics should be considered in context of the times.

Abraham Lincoln made racist comments, should we ban the reciting of the Gettysburg Address?